ML20076N566
| ML20076N566 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Calvert Cliffs  |
| Issue date: | 10/28/1994 |
| From: | Varga S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | BALTIMORE GAS & ELECTRIC CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20076N569 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9411100157 | |
| Download: ML20076N566 (6) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
)
)
BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC
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Docket Nos. 50-317 COMPANY
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and 50-318
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(Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power
)
Plant, Unit Nos. I and 2)
)
EXEMPTION I.
The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BG&E/ licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-53 and DPR-69, which authorizes operation of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. I and 2 (the facilities),
respectively. The license provides, among other things, that the facilities are subject to all rules, regulations and Orders of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) now or hereafter in effect.
The facilities are pressurized water reactors located at the licensee's site in Calvert County, Maryland.
The licensee is implementing upgrades to the existing safety-related emergency diesel generators (EDGs) to increase their load capacity. The first part of this effort was to upgrade Unit 1 EDG No. 11 during the previous Unit I refueling outage (RF0-ll). The second part of the EDG upgrade project is to upgrade Unit 2 EDG No. 21 during the upcoming Unit 2 refueling outage (RFO-10). RFO-10 is scheduled to commence on March 17, 1995, and to be completed in late May 1995. To-sciport this second portion of the upgrades, the licensee has identified one temporary exemption required at this time.
The exemption is specified below.
9411100157 941028 PDR ADOCK 05000317 P
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- II.
The Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A, General Criterion-2 (GDC-2), requires that: StructJres, systems, and Components important to safety shall be designed to withstand the effects of natural phenomena such as... tornadoes,... without loss of capability to perform their safety functions.
The licensee has requested the temporary exemption from GDC-2 because of the planned upgrade of the Unit 2 EDG No. 21. The effort will require temporary removal of a steel missile door which will expose portions of the support systems of EDG Nos. 11 and 12. These EDGs are required to be operable to support the operation of Unit No. I and the shutdown or refueling of Unit No. 2.
These EDGs require protection from the potential effects of postulated missiles generated by natural phenomena. The licensee indicates that the steel missile door will be remo'ed 4 times during RF0-10. The licensee estimates that each of the missile door removals will last for about 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> which will result in a total removal time of about 100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br /> during the scheduled 65 day outage.
The licensee is providing compensatory action to assure the safe operation of Unit No. I and refueling of Unit No. 2 for the short periods of j
time during which the steel missile door will be removed. To encompass all l
severe weather conditions as defined in the plant site Emergency Response Plan Implementing Procedures 3.0, At)actiment 17, a concerted effort will be made to i
reinstall the missile door if a tornado or hurricane watch is issued or if sustained winds are predicted to be greater than 50 miles / hour at the site.
The only factor which would impede the reinstallation of the missile door
. would be to ensure the safety of the individuals performing the 1
L reinstallation.
Considering the existing design features and compensatory measure f
proposed by the licensee, the likelihood of damage to the exposed EDG support systems from postulated missiles generated by natural phenomena is minimal for the short periods of time that the protective door will be removed.. Also, based on the compensatory measure provided, reasonable assurance exists that the ability to reinstall the missile door will be maintained prior to any severe weather which could result in airborne missiles. Therefore, there is reasonable assurance that the proposed GDC-2 exemption will present no undue risk to public health and safety.
III.
The Commission has dete?<
ad, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), that special circumstances as set forth in 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v) exist. The exemption would provide only temporary relief from the applicable regulation (GDC-2).
The exemption is requested for a specific time period after which the facility would again be in conformance with all the requirements of GDC-2. The licensee has made good faith efforts in considering alternatives to the exemption request and has concluded that the EDG upgrades can only be conducted without the subject exemption during a period when both units are shut down.
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Based on the above and on review of the licensee's submittal, as summarized in the Safety Evaluation, dated October 28, 1994, the NRC staff concludes that the likelihood of unacceptable damage to the exposed portions l
4 of the operable EDGs support systems due to weather-induced missiles during the short duration exposures occurring in the exemption period is low.
Based on the low probability of unacceptable events, coupled with the compensatory measure which the licensee has comitted to, the NRC staff finds the proposed exemption from GDC-2 to be acceptable.
IV.
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the subject exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and is consistent with the common defense and security. The Comission further determines that special circumstances, as provided in 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v), are present justifying the exemption; namely, that the exemption would provide only temporary relief from the applicable regulations and that the licensee has made good faith efforts to comply with the regulations.
Therefore, the Comission hereby approves the following exemption:
Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. I and 2, may operate without conforming to the requirements of GDC-2 as they apply to the exposed portions of the support systems for EDG Nos.11 and 12 providing that the compensatory measure as described herein is in place for the period of the exemption.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Comission has determined that granting the above exemption will have no significant impact on the quality of the human environment (October 27, 1994, 58 FR 54013).
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l The subject Unit No. 2 EDG No. 21 upgrade GDC-2 exemption if effective from its date of issuance through May 31, 1995.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION r
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arga, Dir r
ivision of Reactor o cts - I/II Office of Nuclear Reac or Regulation Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of October 1994 i
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4 - P The subject Unit No. 2 EDG No. 21 upgrade GDC-2 exemption if effective from its date of issuance through May 31, 1995.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION f
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.o e vision of Reactor Pr ects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of October 1994 i
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